Pictured: and Shana Fair, Byesville
Rotary President, Russell Jeffries, speaker, and Oziel Jeffries, Speaker Host.
Jonathon “Russell” Jeffries spoke to
Byesville Rotary and a group of Meadowbrook students about career opportunities
in the Air Force. Jeffries stated that he enlisted in the Air Force in 1991. He
began his military career as a Korean linguist. While being a linguist may not
sound like an exciting career, Jeffries pointed out that his mission was to
listen to Korean radio transmissions and analyze the transmissions for any
intelligence data. In time, he began to plan strike missions. He eventually
became an intelligence analyst.
Jeffries final job for the Air Force was
at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This organization, established in
1991, was a secret until 1993 when George W. Bush accidentally mentioned the
NRO in a speech. While serving at the NRO, Jeffries began building information
gathering satellites also known as “spies in the sky.” Jeffries pointed out
that the NRO currently designs, builds, and launches all US intelligence
satellites.
Jeffries explained that even though he
retired from the Air Force in 2014, he still has an interesting and challenging
job in the private sector. He is now working as a Chief Engineer for the
Department of Defense. He qualified for his latest job because of the training
and experience he gained in the Air Force.
Jeffries encouraged the young people
attending the meeting to consider a career in the military. Using his career as
example, Jeffries described how enlisting can not only lead to an interesting
and challenging military career but also result in an equally interesting
career in the private sector, Jeffries stated, :A new space age is coming. A
career in the military can help a person develop the skill and the experience
needed to become a part of the space industry.”
He stated that the space industries are looking
for employees with math, science and engineering skills. He pointed out that
the space industry also needs business managers, contracting officers, graphics
designers, project managers, and people with skills in all types of technical trades.
Jeffries also said that internships for students are often offered by the Dept.
of Defense, the CIA, and their industry partners.
Matt Stemmer, a member of the Meadowbrook
Interact service club, introduced himself. He hopes to enter the athletic
training program offered at Bowling Green University and earn a degree in
physical therapy. His goal is to work as an athletic trainer at a school.
Connect with Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets
7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299)
Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.